How every country in the world responds to a sneeze

Sometimes it’s the little things that can be the most insightful when getting to know a new language and culture. I still can’t get over how the Hebrew word for potato literally translates to “Earth apple”, or that the Dutch word for glove is “hand-shoe”. The phrases different cultures use when someone sneezes, as seen in a new comprehensive infographic by Expedia, are equally fascinating. While the sneezer’s health pops up in just about every response worldwide, humanity seems split on whether a sneeze means you have good health or bad health coming your way. The same goes for God; depending on the country you’re in, instead of him blessing you, you may need to ask for forgiveness from him. Kind of high stakes for getting a little dust in your nose.

We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. For more information on how we use cookies consult our revised Privacy Policy and Terms of Service.